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#ThemeSongTuesday (1/12/16): The King of Strong Style

Here we all are, just ten days into the new year, and already things are being set into motion. Not your ordinary, run of the mill things. We’re talking things that could define the rest of 2016 for both the WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). Immediately following the latter’s biggest annual event Wrestle Kingdom 10, it was reported that current IWGP Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, Bullet Club members Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, and now-former Bullet Club leader A.J. Styles have all given their notice to the company to join the half-wrestling promotion, half-hospital that is WWE!

What does this mean for the future of NJPW? With Nakamura still carrying a major belt in New Japan, how long will it be until he makes his WWE debut? Is it true that you hear The Beatles when you stare into Styles’ eyes for too long? These are questions that can be answered in time, if not by our puroresu correspondent Lance Ong. For now, we have no choice but to be content with what we know so far and the occasional tease by the WWE itself.

Making an NJPW #ThemeSongTuesday debut, we’ve got the King of Strong Style: Shinsuke Nakamura!

“Subconscious”, a theme composed by Julia Claris, has served as Nakamura’s entrance music since 2009. Most current wrestlers require heavy hitting intros laced with crushing guitars and drums to denote their impact, much like Kevin Owens or Dean Ambrose. Someone like Shinsuke Nakamura, however, needs none of that. To musically package him, you need to know who you’re dealing with. Not only does his persona demand a theme fit for a force to be reckoned with; it demands a theme fit for a world-class performer that oozes confidence literally all the way to the tip of his fingers.

We literally meant literally.Source: NJPW

Having only seen him twice (vs. Tanahashi, G1 Climax Finals & vs. Styles, Wrestle Kingdom 10), I can honestly say that he warrants the 20-second ambient instrumental that “Subconscious” opens with. This style of which he is King of is so strong, it’s almost as if we need a warning before our mortal, not-strong eyes behold him. If Julia Claris composed this theme without that build-up, I’m pretty sure our heads would explode from an overload of visual greatness. No kidding.BUT WAIT! The theme doesn’t punch as hard when the full instrumentals come in, you say? Eh. I mean, you’re right. The track shows nothing much past its already great riffs and fills. Listening to Shinsuke Nakamura’s theme alone, however, is like watching a fireworks display blindfolded. This theme simply accompanies the King of Strong Style that carries it all.

Overall, “Subconscious” perfectly fits someone like Shinsuke Nakamura, someone whose entrance needs to be heard and seen to fully appreciate. It’s sort of like a preview before the spectacular Nakamura main feature. Go watch his matchesfeatured in our 31 Days of Wrestling as a preview of what could be coming to the WWE, God willing they don’t change much of what makes him who he is in the ring. Nakamura’s theme is expected to stay the same too, if the rumors stating the WWE bought the rights to the theme are true.

Have been told WWE licensed the rights to "Subconscious," the @ShinsukeN theme song from NJPW. Will be great if tue.

Oh, and despite his disdain for the NJPW Exodus, how could we talk about this without our resident puroresu specialist Lance Ong sharing his thoughts? Take it away, Lance!

"Shinsuke Nakamura's entrance music is truly synonymous to the man known today as the King of Strong Style, having used his theme since the MMA-esque phase of his career, to the founding of CHAOS, all the way up to the man he has become today. And when you begin to hear even the intro to his theme, you cannot help but feel chills and goosebumps in anticipation of the man who will come up and electrify the audience. To get the fans riled up while overcoming the language barrier (because he doesn't need words at all) is an achievement many wrestlers can only dream of. But no doubt about it, his theme is the secret ingredient that truly completes the package that is Shinsuke Nakamura."

Source: NJPW

What do you think of Shinsuke Nakamura’s theme? Are you confident in his future in the WWE? Which song from The Beatles did you hear when you stared at A.J. Styles for too long? Share ‘em with us in the comments below!

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When he isn't writing Smark Henry's #ThemeSongTuesday column, Lorenzo Magnaye hosts the #HomeRun on 99.5 PlayFM. It's a good thing, too, since his childhood consisted mostly of watching professional wrestling and listening to his parents on the radio. He's only recently rekindled his love for the WWE, and has been trying to make up for missing out on everything post-WrestleMania XX by praying to Seth Rollins thrice a day. Follow him on Twitter: @RenzoSaurus!